As the Seattle Seahawks gear up for the offseason, they've got some crucial choices ahead, especially with free agency looming. Fresh off their Super Bowl triumph, the Seahawks face the challenge of deciding whether to retain edge rusher Boye Mafe.
Mafe is among six key players set to hit free agency, including Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, safety Coby Bryant, and corners Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe. The reality is, Seattle can't keep them all.
Despite having the sixth-most salary cap space in the league at nearly $61.9 million, a substantial portion will likely be allocated to securing 2023 first-round picks Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon on long-term contracts.
Mafe’s Value and Potential
Drafted in the second round in 2022, Mafe showcased his potential with a standout 9.0-sack season in 2023, including a franchise-record streak of seven games with at least one sack. He continued his strong start in 2024 with three sacks in the first three games. However, an injury in Weeks 4 and 5 slowed his momentum, and he managed just 3.0 sacks in the final 12 games of 2024 and 2.0 sacks over 20 games in 2025.
But don't let the sack numbers tell the whole story. Mafe ranked eighth among edge rushers in ESPN’s pass rush win rate and placed 38th in Pro Football Focus’ run defense grading. PFF projects Mafe to receive a three-year, $49 million deal, and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah sees him commanding significant attention in free agency due to his explosive and dynamic play style.
Trade Considerations and Future Prospects
Interestingly, the Seahawks nearly traded Mafe to the Kansas City Chiefs at the trade deadline last November, hinting at his position in Seattle’s free agency plans.
If Mafe exits, Seattle’s edge rushers would include five-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence, veteran Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall. While Lawrence has two years left on his contract, he's approaching his age-34 season.
Nwosu, with one year remaining, carries a hefty cap hit of $19.99 million. Hall, after a two-sack performance in the Super Bowl, is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is eligible for a new contract.
Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former linebacker Dave Wyman believes Mafe might enter free agency. Wyman appreciates Mafe’s talent but notes the need for improvement in his run defense, a crucial aspect in head coach Mike Macdonald’s system. Wyman suggests Mafe’s quick-twitch style might not align with the physicality the Seahawks seek, leading to other teams potentially offering more lucrative deals.
As the offseason unfolds, the Seahawks will need to weigh their options carefully, balancing cap space with the need to maintain a competitive roster.